By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
THREE Haitian men who could not verify their status when approached by immigration officers earlier this week were fined $300 in court yesterday.
John Blanc, 33, Cloud Petite, 29, and Kutchner Guillaume, 31, appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes after they were found in New Providence on January 26, having landed in the country without leave of an immigration officer. They all pleaded guilty to one count of illegal landing.
The court was told a team of officers were conducting patrols in the southwestern region of the capital when they approached and questioned the men regarding their status in the country. After the accused told them they had travelled to the country illegally on a boat, they were cautioned and taken to the Detention Centre for further processing.
The prosecution said checks of the Immigration Department’s system confirmed the accused were residing in the country without the required legal documents. They were subsequently charged.
After they pleaded guilty yesterday, Magistrate Forbes fined each accused $300 or 12 months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services. He said after the fine was paid or the sentence was completed, they would be turned over to the Director of Immigration for deportation.
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